Telangana HC directs Alliance Air to pay Rs 12.8L to 32 passengers for cancelling flight to Mysore

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has directed Alliance Air Aviation to pay Rs 12.8 lakh along with 12 per cent interest to 32 passengers for cancelling their scheduled flight to Mysore in June 2022.

Consumer forum order upheld

Justice NV Shravan Kumar issued the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by Shyam Sundar Lahoti and 31 others.

The petitioners approached the court after the airline failed to implement an earlier order passed by the Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II.

Flight cancellation disrupted vacation plans

The passengers had booked tickets to Mysore for June 2, 2022, but their flight was abruptly cancelled, forcing them to call off their vacation plans, cancel hotel reservations, and adjust their return journey.

They approached the consumer forum, which directed Alliance Air to compensate them Rs 12.8 lakh with interest from the date of receipt of the order.

No appeal filed by airline

The petitioners informed the court that despite receiving formal notice of the forum’s order on September 20, 2024, Alliance Air neither paid the amount nor filed any appeal, making the order final and enforceable.

Airline failed to respond to representations

Their counsel argued that multiple representations sent to Alliance Air went unanswered. As the airline performs public duties, it was obligated to act on their pleas, they said.

The High Court, while disposing of the petition, directed Alliance Air to clear the dues within three weeks.